Orange Beach, Alabama Short-Term Rental Market
Orange Beach short-term rentals averaged $339 ADR, 56.4% occupancy and $5,092 monthly revenue in September 2026.
Quick Answer: Orange Beach, Alabama is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Gulf Shores/Mobile market area is 56%. average monthly revenue in the Gulf Shores/Mobile market area is $5,092. average daily rate in the Gulf Shores/Mobile market area is $339. the top operator in the Gulf Shores/Mobile market area is Vacasa with 1,878 listings. market score is 82/100 (grade B).
Market data reflects the Gulf Shores/Mobile regional market, which includes Orange Beach. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Orange Beach.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Orange Beach sits on the Alabama Gulf Coast, and the performance figures in this profile describe the Alabama Gulf Coast STR market, a regional series that nearby towns share. Regulatory, housing, and visitor details are specific to Orange Beach. In September 2026, the Alabama Gulf Coast STR market posted an average daily rate of $339, occupancy of 56.4%, and average monthly revenue of $5,092 per listing. Year over year, occupancy rose 12.5%, ADR rose 4.9%, and revenue rose 11.0%, so growth came from both more booked nights and higher rates. Entire homes averaged $341 per night in September 2026, slightly above the all-listings figure. Average monthly revenue was $5,421 for houses, $5,127 for entire places, and $5,018 for apartments. Bedroom, booking channel, and listing-type counts are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Orange Beach, so this profile omits them. Orange Beach has a resident population of 8,599 but draws far more visitors. The Gulf Shores and Orange Beach tourism corridor drew an estimated 8.4 million visitors to Baldwin County in 2025, with roughly 6.5 million of them visiting the Alabama beaches specifically. Visitors spent $923 million on lodging rentals in 2025, up from $871 million in 2024, and the beach communities support about 55,000 tourism related jobs. Peak season runs spring through summer, with guests arriving from Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, Louisiana, and Mississippi, plus repeat visitors who often book condos and beach houses. Snowbirds extend demand into fall and winter. Year to date through September 2026, the regional market averaged 63.5% occupancy, a $356 ADR, and $6,229 in monthly revenue, ahead of the 2025 full year figures of 56.3%, $327, and $5,304.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 39% |
| Feb | 64% |
| Mar | 69% |
| Apr | 49% |
| May | 64% |
| Jun | 80% |
| Jul | 80% |
| Aug | 54% |
| Sep | 52% |
| Oct | 53% |
| Nov | 34% |
| Dec | 30% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Orange Beach are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Gulf Shores/Mobile market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Gulf Shores/Mobile market as a whole, which includes Orange Beach, so these counts are not Orange Beach-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vacasa | 1,878 | 81,402 | ★ 4.37 |
| 2 | Brett Robinson Vacation Rentals | 1,775 | 15,937 | ★ 4.53 |
| 3 | Liquid Life | 898 | 23,604 | ★ 4.59 |
| 4 | My Beach Getaways | 443 | 10,896 | ★ 4.58 |
| 5 | Beachball Properties | 420 | 13,232 | ★ 4.62 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Orange Beach?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Orange Beach are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 14.9% |
| vrbo | 17.8% |
| both | 67.3% |
Home Value Trends (Orange Beach)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Orange Beach are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Booking Insights
Booking-window and length-of-stay analysis for Orange Beach — how far ahead guests book and how to price around it — is available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Orange Beach permits short-term rentals but controls where they can operate. The city defines a vacation rental as a residential dwelling rented for 14 consecutive days or less. Operators need a Vacation Rental License, which costs $500 and renews annually, plus a city business license. Applications require a floor plan, a site plan showing parking, an affidavit of code compliance, and a property inspection. The owner or an authorized agent must be reachable by phone 24/7 while the unit is occupied. Overnight occupancy is capped by bedroom count: 2 guests for a studio or one bedroom, 4 for two bedrooms, 6 for three, 8 for four, 10 for five, and 12 for six, plus children age 14 or under. Smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, and fire extinguishers are required. Zoning is the biggest constraint. Vacation rentals are allowed on Gulf-front parcels south of Perdido Beach Boulevard, inside Planned Unit Developments, and in the RS-1, RS-2, RS-3, and MHS residential districts, excluding the beach overlay district. Parcels outside those categories generally must rent for 180 days or more, so buyers should verify zoning with Planning and Zoning before purchase. There is no owner-occupancy requirement, no primary residence requirement, and no annual cap on rental nights. Lodging tax totals 16%, made up of 10% city, 4% state, and 2% Baldwin County, and the city rate increased effective September 1, 2023. The framework rests on Ordinances 2018-1282 and 2018-1283. Enforcement is rated moderate and includes citations, fines, and license revocation.
Market Comparison
The Alabama Gulf Coast STR market looks strong on rate. September 2026 occupancy was 56.4% and the ADR was $339. Luxury listings at $445 and professionally managed listings at $380 sit well above the all-listings ADR. Year over year trends are also favorable, with occupancy up 12.5%, ADR up 4.9%, and revenue up 11.0%. The market is seasonal, however. Typical December occupancy of 30.4% sits far below June at 80.4%, so the annual average depends on strong summer months. Costs are higher than in many markets as well. The typical home value is $682,786 and the lodging tax is 16%. Zoning also narrows the pool of eligible properties, which can support rates for compliant operators. Top operator names are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Orange Beach, so this profile omits them. Investors comparing Orange Beach with other Gulf markets should weigh the strong summer rates and long booking windows against the limited eligible zoning and the high entry price.
Frequently Asked Questions About Orange Beach, Alabama
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